Metal lath



i NITED STATES DAIVSON B. HILTON, OF

PATENT OFFIC BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

M ETA L LAT H SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 1l'o..588,576, dated August 24, 1897. Application filed December 4, 1896.fierial No. 614,414. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAWSON B. HILTON, of Brooklyn, county of Kings, andState of New York, have invented an Improved Metal Lath, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This inven tion relates to a metal lath which is of simple construction,offers a firm retaining-surface-for the plaster, and covers a large areawith a given size of work-piece.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a face view of my improvedlath, showing it in the course of manufacture and before beingstretched. Fig. 2 is a face view of a portion of the lath complete; Fig.3, a cross-section on line 3 3, Fig. 2; and Fig. 4, a longitudinalsection on line 4 4, Fig. 2.

In manufacturing the lath I first cut out a blank to form a herring-bonepattern, in'

which rows of parallel ribs a a, sloping alter natel y in oppositedirections, are separated by the longitudinal parallel strips a 0, Theribs ct are cut by a shear and die in such a manner that while being outthey are simultaneously bent so as to assume an inclined position to thebody of the work-piece and expose a sharp edge at the top and bottom.-In this way spaces a are opened out between the ribs, and at the sametime the ribs are placed in the best possible position for retaining theplaster.

The alternate longitudinal strips a 61/ are grooved longitudinally onopposite sides to form trough-shaped spaces that assist in holding theplaster and strengthen the lath. Moreover, by grooving alternatelongitudinal 3 5 strips on opposite sides the ribs a, that connect theserrated edges of said strips, Fig. 4, can be out and bent at oneoperation and without twisting.

Afterthe work-piece has assumed the form shown in Fig. 1 it is laterallydistended by suitable mechanism to reduce the angle of inclinationbetween the ribs a and strips a a open out the spaces a and increase thewidth of the lath. In this way the surface covered by the complete lathis not only greater than the one covered by the work-piece, but the lathis lightened, and its shape is one excellently adapted for retaining theplaster.

What I claim is- 50 1. A blank for metal laths composed of longitudinalstrips grooved alternately on opposite faces, and of rows of inclinedribs that connect said strips, the ribs of adjoiningrows sloping inopposite directions, substantially 55 as specified. V

2. A metal lath composed of, a laterally-distended body having serratedlongitudinal strips grooved alternately on opposite faces, and bent ribsthat connect the serrated edges 60 of said strips, substantially asspecified.

DAWSON B. HILTON.

\Vitnesses WI LIE MILLER, WILLIAM SoHULz.

